MANILA It was the most important night of the year. As "Show 2001" got off to a start, the hall was packed to standing room only, and talented employees -- mostly Filipinos -- strutted their stuff in aid of local charities.
It's show time. But where's the big boss? Up in his office, of course, working. No wonder: the cares of almost half of the world rests on his shoulders and it was a time of recession. As a foreigner, he could not be expected to take time off from his onerous official workload, not even for a good cause.
But then, to everyone's surprise, the boss appears. Still dressed in his dark business suit, he was invited to the microphone. Immediately he launched into a popular Philippine ballad, showing off such baritone artistry and authority that soon the whole audience was on its feet, applauding and cheering.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.